By Reuben Bojor
Special Correspondent, Abuja
One commodity with a leading role and long, historic adventure in farming and commercialisation is fish.
In some climes, fish retains this feat besides meeting local demand and supply chain, and being a major export produce.
Cat fish delicacy
Transactions in Abuja Fish Market take place outside fishing shores and consist of several outlets for different types of fish.
The market, which opens daily, is situated in the city suburb, Kado, a busy commercial haven with other transactions playing along.
Though other fish species, types, and categories thrive, the leading player and postmaster is cat fish; the delicacy of consumers, including those from neighbouring states who bid on the varieties of dried, preserved, and live fish.
Challenges
Like other agricultural sectors in the country, fishing – its farming, processing, and marketing – faces enormous challenges.
Abuja Fish Market basks in poor sanitation and hygiene, inadequate storage and processing facilities, insufficient space and accommodation, among other problems.
At the cat fish outlet located on a major road, there is a beehive of commerce as consumers and marketers throng a large number of sealed, big plastic bowls of live fish which burrow in the reservoirs.
Proper commercialisation
Fishery Co-operative Federation of Nigeria (FCFN) National Chairman, Anthony Ashagye, said some of the catch is from the metropolis and the bulk is from the outside.
“Abuja contributes, but most of the fish are from places like Lagos, Ibadan and other areas,” he explained.
Ashagye listed the problems of fish farming to include a lack of mechanisation, financial and commercial incentives, subsidy, infrastructure, capacity building, land, space, and accommodation.
“Our challenges are uncountable but our agitation or appeal is one; and that is, the government and private sectors coming to our aid.
“I mean, helping us fish farmers, marketers and processors/preservers, by providing us with what is required for proper commercialisation of the commodity so as to meet our desired target, which is maximum profit.
“Even with the poor state that we are in, you can see the population, mostly youths, who are engaged. Imagine what it will be like when the government and private sector come to our aid.”
Appeal to government
FCFN National Treasurer, Abdullahi Dole, also complained of insufficient market space.
Said he: “This is the only fish market in the Abuja metropolis. There is insufficient space to accommodate both us and our customers.
“As a body, we are renting an office space outside the market. Imagine that!
“We need sufficient land/market space to accommodate the various outlets, including the processing unit, which is doing a great job.
“We need modern equipment and facilities, infrastructure, financial and commercial incentives and subsidies, capacity building, and lots more.
“Farmers need fish feeds, processors need modern processing, preserving and packaging facilities, marketers need incentives and subsidies.
“So, as a co-operative body, we are appealing to the present government under the auspices of President Muhammadu Buhari and FCT (Federal Capital Territory) Minister, Muhammadu Bello, to come to our aid.”
Below expectation
A man who identified himself simply as Brian, a farmer and marketer, said though the business is good, farming is far below expectation due to the soil type and other factors.
“The problem we have is poor soil which affects fish life in the ponds. It is something that can be corrected, so we are begging the government to come to our aid,” he added.
Operators said past governments made several promises without fulfilling them after reaping huge revenues, and expressed hope that the present administration will key into this lucrative venture which will help create jobs.